When Presque Isle business owners Andrew and Kassidie Shaw acquired the space beside their clothing boutique, it dawned on them that they could be sitting on a gold mine.
The Shaws, who launched Designer Refind last year, have now opened a new storefront that adds a modern twist to discount shopping.
Presque Isle once had a military surplus store, then a famous Maine salvage company moved in. But the market for overstock goods has evolved, and now bin stores — offering deep discounts on surplus and returned items from big retailers — are taking off.
So with the success of their bargain-priced fashion business, the Shaws decided to branch out and open the area’s first bin store.
“I first saw this model gaining popularity in other parts of the country through social media,” Andrew Shaw said. “Bin stores have been booming in larger markets, offering customers affordable access to brand-name items.”
The notion apparently got its start when a store that was closing reduced all its products to $5, and kept slashing prices until everything was gone, according to Reverse Logistics, a trade association for the merchandise return industry. Social media spread the story, and bin stores became a thing.
The Presque Isle venture is the latest in what seems to be a rarity in Maine. Gorham has a Goodwill bin outlet, and there is also Lin’s Bins and More in Porter. A listing for Buck Luck in Scarborough noted the store was permanently closed.
The Designer Refind Bin Store opened on June 14 at 473 Main St. It’s a different concept, like a treasure hunt, where people dig through the displays, Andrew Shaw said.
The storefront grew out of their other businesses. Kassidie Shaw started out offering gently used clothing online, which grew into the couple’s current online store. Knowing there were few retail clothing options in Presque Isle, they opened the Main Street boutique a year ago.
They acquired the space next to Designer Refind to use as a packaging annex for online orders, Andrew Shaw said. Then they had an “Aha” moment when they realized it was valuable street frontage and had more potential than what they were using it for.
“We felt like that was a waste of a perfectly good storefront,” he said. “It should be used as a store. So we slowly picked away at it over the winter and spring.”
Shaw built the wooden bins, which sit on legs. Inside the new store, each bin is piled with items like bedding, home decor, tools, toys, pet items, sporting goods and more. They focus on unique items that aren’t otherwise available locally, he said.
Since the idea is new, shoppers often have questions about how it works. Each item has a color-coded sticker. Each color stands for a different price, from $2 to $20. The merchandise changes constantly, with new items introduced every Friday.
Overall, the wares are from 50 to 95 percent lower than regular prices, Andrew Shaw said.
The couple selects goods from retailers they’ve developed relationships with over the years, and base their selections on what they feel local people will buy, as well as on customer input.
They are currently vetting merchandise for the holiday season, such as toys and other gift items, which they plan to have in store for early shopping.
Traffic has been brisk, Shaw said. Customers have said they like the prices and the range of products. And as people constantly search for ways to live well on a budget, he believes the community is eager for fresh shopping experiences.
The Shaws think the bin store will give families a fun place to shop that captures the excitement of a bargain hunt.
Both the Designer Refind boutique and bin stores operate during the same hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The store adds a unique business to a Main Street that has seen many changes in recent years. Once containing many empty storefronts, the downtown is now filled with retail options, art, restaurants and the refurbished Northeastland Hotel, to name a few.
As they feel their way and gauge public response to their new venture, Andrew Shaw said they’re happy to be part of the growing downtown scene.
“There’s been a real spirit of entrepreneurship in Presque Isle lately. Main Street is slowly evolving, and businesses that are innovative and community-focused are doing well,” he said. “We hope to expand. We’ll see how it does.”
